The 11th-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team opens the 2011 spring season on Saturday (March 26) when it travels to Columbus, Ohio, for a dual race with Big Ten foe Ohio State at the Griggs Reservoir on the Scioto River. The Wolverines are sending five varsity boats: first varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four. The Wolverines will also send a novice eight and a second novice eight. This will be the first race of the spring season for both squads.

Let's Get It StartedU-M is hoping to get off to a good start to open the spring campaign and is looking for its third season-opening victory in the last four seasons. U-M dropped a hard-fought race to Michigan State last season but in 2009 defeated Princeton and Brown in the season-opening race and in 2008 opened with a win over Duke in the Big Ten/ACC double dual. This week's season-opening race against Ohio State marks the second consecutive season U-M has raced a Big Ten opponent to open the season and is the first meeting between U-M and Ohio State to open a season in the last 10 seasons.

Summer of RowingOver the summer, several U-M rowers competed in several high level summer competitions. Current U-M rowers Felice Mueller(Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Promfret School [Conn.]), Julia Darnton(Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and Cristina Felix(San Marino, Calif./San Marino) each competed in international competition. Mueller rowed to the Under-23 World Championship goal medal in the pair with former Wolverine Ashley Kroll, while Cristina Felix teamed with her sister for a bronze medal in the double sculls in the Central America/Caribbean games. Darnton spent her summer in the Under-23 U.S. Lightweight summer program and raced in several regattas.

The Leader of the Maize and BlueMark Rothsteinenters his 15th season at the helm of the University of Michigan women's rowing team. Rothstein has guided the Wolverines to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and three Big Ten Championships, including back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001.

Rothstein's staff is made up of assistants Kate Strum and Brett Sickler and graduate assistant coach Annie Hildebrand. Strum and Hildebrand are both entering their third seasons with the Wolverines, while Sickler, a former U-M rower, enters her second season on the Michigan rowing staff. Jordan Harris joins the staff as the Director of Operations, while Matt LeBlanc is in his 14th year as U-M's boatman and rigger.

Rank and FileMichigan earned a No. 11 preseason ranking by the USRowing/CRCA Women's Collegiate Rowing Preseason Division I Poll released on March 17. The Wolverines are one of four Big Ten schools to earn a preseason ranking. Michigan State led the Big Ten schools with a No. 8 preseason ranking.